The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-01-05

SO afterward. The scent of oranges was
in the air, and in the cool shade of the
colonnades Narcissa's favorite flowers
spread their silken leaves and shed odors
of jasmine and roses
Then in the later evening, when the
stars were out and the
Crescent moon. Il silver boat,
Hung dim behind the trees,
the music from the military band on the
plaza coming TO them moilowed by me
distance. they sat and spoke of France.
Il have ionged 10 90 10 France. said
Narcissa TO Saint-Cyr. but papa says
hewill never return to his country; and
no wonder, since Lorraine is no longer
n French provinces; but" dropping her
voice for his ear alone, IAN old Mexican
woman, fortune-teler, says shall live
in Frapce some day"
''She is a wise woman" SAID Saint
Cyr. smiling. IL can tell fortunes too. "
Papa. DO you hear what the count
saws? lie can tell fortunes"
'He has certainly spent them, and
made them, so I've no doubt nc can tell
them, too. Does he foreteil the nature
of the canalP'
Celia va sans dira." retorted Mar
cissa; "besides. monsieur is not eXpend-
ing his millions upon our canal.
America is able TO provide for her own.
''She does not provide in this case,
mademoiselle; but if | were obliged to
expend my money upon my ventures 1
would do it without hesitation.
Even upon the great canaI?"
Most certainly. l hope, you do not
doubt my successg'
Monsieur" she returned, reproach-
fully. lit is the grandest undertaking
since the building of the pyramids. "
They laughed at her enthusiasm.
'But tell me of France" she con-
tinued.
''My child" said De Chalusse, things
are sadly changed since ~. Look at
Lorraine"
Papa" she said, gravely, you
should not complain. Before ~ you
had lost the battle of Waterloo; now
you have won it. J."
That is n consolation that never oc-
Cured to me-" said her father amused;
"but just at present | happen to be an
American.
Il shall be the happicst woman in the
TO France, look about me, and say: 80
this is my country; here my father IS
family for centuries past have lived and
died, loyal subjects of the soil.
"Subjects of the soil?" repeated Saint
Cyr. after all, Edmonde, the feelings
of the highest class and of the lowest,
even the adscripti gleb9, find the same
expression. 1t is the love of country
that is the great want of the middle
classes"
The conversation drifted to the dis
cussion of the great social problem.
The engineer had his own views of the
subject, and gave them eloquent express
sion. Narcssa sat beside her father and
! listened as Desdemona sat beside Bra
bantio and listened to the Moor.
Saint-Cyr thought of the fair Venetian,
and wondered if she were fairer than
! his countrywoman.
The next morning he rose before the
sun. and stepped upon the stone bal
cony adjoining his room. A figure in
white moving among the flowers in the
courtyard caught his eye. 1t was Mar
cissa with watering-pot in her hand.
! She looked very lovely in her cool gar
ments of thin white stuff, her favorite
hower-poor Josephinc's souvenir dc
Malmason' in the loops of her heavy,
dark hair. She looked up presently and
caught sight of him, smiled. and with 9
"bonicur. monsieur" invited him to
descend. She showed him her collec-
ton o. rare plants and flowers, and
when he paused before the gem of all
she offered him the single bloom it bore,
and bent to cut it oil.
"Many thanks, mademoiselle, but
believe J would rather not have that
one.
She paused and turned her splendid
eyes upon him, disappointed.
why, .monsieur, it is the rarest flower
l have. "
Pardon, mademoiselle, the choicest
one you have you have not offered me. y
She looked seriously at him.
is it possible? Where is it? Show
it to me, monsieur"
And if / do"
at is yours if you want H.
He pnt out his hand and touched the
rose in her hair. She smiled brightly.
''Is the Souvenir your fayorite rose
also. mOnsieurP 1t is mine, as You see;
but you are no botanist. 1t is by no
means the choicest flower have. VIII
you have this--or ths?" indicating the
buds on the bush.
lit is the rose in your hair, mademoi-
selle, that | ask for
She unpinned it and loosened her
hair at the same ti,ne. 1t fell upon her
shoulders in thick curls.
"Oh, how awkward / ami she ex-
claimed, laughing. "See what YOU have
made me do, monsieur. You don't de-
serve the rose
But you promised it to me"
"And Il Chalusse should keep her
word"
She pinned the flower upon his eont.
She was a goodly height; he did not
dwarf her at all, although he lowered
abovehlo men.
"Brunehildc." he murmured.
"Am l SO tall?" she asked. There.
] have decorated you, monsieur; you are
now knight of the rose: it should be a
fleUr-de-lys instead"
Aud she went of, holding back the
flood of hair that hung from her shout
ders far below the waist. He followed